US1415313A - Method of making leather yarn and article - Google Patents

Description

W. M. CAVANAUGH.

METHOD OF MAKING LEATHER YARN AND ARTICLE.

APPLICATIQN FILED OCT. 15, 1918.

1 41 5, 3 1 3 Patented May 9, 1922 4 SHEETSSHEET I.

///J monzrs.

I W. M. CAVANAUGH. METHOD OF MAKING LEATHER YARN AND ARTICLE. APPLICATION FILED ocr. 15, 1918.

1,41 5,31 3; Patented May 9, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CD t) l/VI/E/V TOR W. M. CAVANAUGH.

. METHOD OF MAKING LEATHER YARN AND ARTICLE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15; 198. 1,415,313 Patented May 4 $HEETS-5HEET 3- w. M. CAVANAUG H METHOD OF MAKING LEATHER YARN AND ARTiGLE.

APPLICATION man OCT. 15, 1918. v 1,41 5,3 1 3., Patented May 1922. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. NAUGH,

WILLIAM M. CAVANAUGI-I, OF NEW YORK, Y.

METHOD OF MAKING LEATHER YARN AND ARTICLE.

teasers.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. CAVA- a citizen of the United .States, and a resident of the borough of Richmond, city of New[ York, county of Richmond, and

State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making-Leather Yarn and Article, of which the following is a specification.

The in ention relates to leather manufactures and particularly to the forming of leather into yarn.

The invention is particularly adapted for utilizing. comparatively small fiat strips of leather in forming leather yarn. This yarn is made from short flat strips of leather which are joined-end to e-ndso as to form a long continuous fiat length resembling a wide band and thereafter the continuous fiat length of leather thus joined, to wit, the said wide band, is split longitudinally into a series of long fiat narrow strips each of which narrow strips s consequently made up of connected end-to-end pieces of leather, and which pieces correspond in number to the pieces in the wide band, and thereafter the long flat narrow strips are wound so as to form a round product which is herein properly termed a leather yarn. As the winding progresses the product is deposited upon a spool but before being spooled it is preferably intermittently rolled transversely in a manner to slightly twist the product and in a manner to tighten the winding and so-as to set the wind-or twist by the operation of roll pressing.

' tioif and in As showing a specific manner in which the invention may be realized reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which drawings,

Flgure 1 is a plan or face view of a portion of a long continuous fiat length formed 1 indicated by the line 12-12 of Figure 5 of pieces of leather joined end to end.

Figure 2is a side or edge view of the band shown in Figure 1.

. Figure 3 "shows in vertical elevation a pair of slitting rolls which can be employed to cut or slit the long band into a number of long flat narrow strips, each of the desired width.

Figure 4 shows the rolls in transverse seethis figure there are also indicated several narrow fiat-strips as they'appear immediately. after the severing operation takes place and as the narrow strips are being Wound or coiled upon spools.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1922.

Application filed October 15, 1918. Serial No. 258,210.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a machine which may be employed for the winding or twisting of the narrow continuous strips into the circular product, herein termed yarn. In

this machine there is shown a winding head for forming the yarn, a mechanism for spoohng the yarn, and mechanism for trans- Versely rolling and twisting the yarn prior to its being spooled. I

Figure 6 is a face view of a portion of the long narrow fiat strip. In this figure the product is shown somewhat enlarged as compared withthe strip usually employed, although it will be understood that a strip 0 this width could be employed if desired.

Figure 7 is a view showing-a portion of the yarn which is formed from the strip shown in Figure 6. In Figure 7 there is also shown a thread or strand whic provides a core for the yarn, if a core is desired, and in this figure there is indicated the manner in which the strip is wound or twistedabout the coreto provide the circular product herein termed the yarn.

' Figures 8, 9 and 10 illustrate a woven fabric which can. be formed from theyarn made in the apparatus herein shown. Figure 8' is a face view of the fabric, Figure 9 is a view taken on the plane as indicated by the line 9 9, Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrows, and Figure 10 is -.a view taken on'the' plane as indicated by the line 10'-10, Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrows. Figure 10, however, shows the fabric before it has been calendered or flattened; Figures 8 and 9 illustrate the fabric after it has been calendered or flattened.

Figure 11 is a View indicated by the line 1111 of Figure 12 lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Figure 12 is a view taken as on the plane cated in Figure 2. The pieces are designateC) taken as on the plane being coiled upon the spool by A and the ends thereof are cut preferably parallel with each other and are beveled, as shown at a-ai in Figure 2. The pieces are arranged end to end and the adjacent ends of adjacent pieces. are then connected or a V to wit, pulley P on the motor shaft, belt 11,

stuck together by Suitable cementing material so asto form a comparatively wide long band or strip B. This long band or strip B while of uniform thicl'mess is not necessarily of uniform width and is also prefer-- ably much wider than is desired or than can be employed directly in the making of the yarn It can, however, be readily severed or cut into a number of narrow strips which are suitable for thepurpose. It will here be remarked, however, that it is ad- "visable to form the narrow strips in this row strips.

-manner rather than to form each narrow strip by itself from strips which are brought to the desired Width prior to being joined and I purposely form the wide strip or band as a preliminary to the forming of the nar- Mechanism which I havefound suitable for the purpose of cutting the wide strip or band into the small narrow strips comprises a pair of cooperating grooved slitting rolls C and D which. are clearly indicated in Figures 3 and 4. The band B before formed as the result of the splitting oper-' being slitted is indicated at the right hand side of Figure 4' and the narrow .strips ation are designated by e f g h j; these narrow strips are-coiled or vwound upon spools E. When the narrow stripslare thus spooled they are ready to be employed in the manner shown in Figure 5-provided the leather thereupon i s sufliciently damp and if not sufficiently damp it. must be dampened prior to being twisted.

The machine may be considered to comprise a main frame 1 supporting a winding head 2so1netimes herein called a twisting 'head-which carries the spool of leather, a

transverse rolling mechanism 3 and a mechanlsm 4 forspooling or coiling the yarn. The winding head 2, the transverse rolling mechanism 3 and spool mechanism 4 are all a, COI'G.

drivenfrom' the-motor M bymeans of suitable belts and gearing, as will hereinafter more fully appear. Upon the frame 1 there is also carried a spool holder 5 upon which a spool carrying a thread or strand 6, that can be relied upon to yarn, is placed, when t e yarn is to comprise The winding head 2 has a tubular member which provides a hollow shaft for the head and this shaft is mounted'in a suitable bearing,'as 8. on the, shaft there is placed the spool E carrying'a long narrow leather strip and on this hollow spindle or shaft there are also suitably carried a central guide-way 9 and an inclined guide-way 10, both of which rotate with the spindle or shaft. The leather rovide a core for the strip from the spool passes over the inclined guide-way 10 toward the entrance end or throat of the central guide-way 9. The winding head or twisting head 2 is driven from the motor M by the following train;

pulley 12 on shaft 13, said shaft 13, pulley let which is on theshaft 13, belt 15 and arbor or shaft of the spool mechanism 4. In

the operation of the machine the thread 6 passes through the tubular member 7 to the spool 17, if a thread is to be employed, and as the twisting head 2 revolves, the strip of leather fromthe spool E passes over the inclined guide-way 10 and is deposited in such a manner that it is wound 1n a cylindrical or spiral path about the core; in other words, the strip of leather takes the form of K a cylindrical helix and the central guide-way 9 determines the diameter of the product which passes through it, that is, the diam- 'eter of the product is not larger than the inner diameter of the central guide-way 9.

It is not necessary, however, to employ the core, although the same is advisable, be-

cause the leather from the spool E will be deposited in the same manner even though the-[core is not employed. In order thatthe yarn may be truly circular and smooth, and given a permanent set the transverse rolling means is provided, as at 3. This transverse rolling means comprises a pair of opposed platens arran d so that when they are in engagement with the yarn one of the platens is moving in one direction while the opposing platen is moving in a reverse direction but at substantially'the same speed. These platens are in engagement with the yarn only when they are moving on what may be called a a forward stroke; on the reverse stroke they are not operatively engaging the.

yarn. The transverse rolling mechanism is shown in plan in Figure 5but'vertical views thereof are shown in Figures 11 and 12.

lower platens esignated respectively as 18 which isslidably mounted in the uprights or The platens ma be referred to as upper and standards-20 and-by this rod one longitudi- 'nal' edge portion of the platen is supported, as is clearly shown in Figure 11. The other 1 25 ary rod 23 that is carried by the uprights Or' platen 18 is slidably;

cross-bar 24 is carried at the upper ends of the uprights or edgeof the platen is supported by a stationstandards 20 and the mounted on this rod.

standards 20 and provides a bearing for a rolled and vertically movable rod 25. A yoke 26 is carried at the lower end of said rod 25 and in the depending .arms 27 of the yoke there is carried a slidably mounted rod 28. The upper platen 19 is screw-connected at 29, 29 to this rod so that one edge portion of the platen is supported by the rod, as clearly shown in Figure 11. The opposite edge portion of the upper platen is carried by a fixed rod 30 which is in the depending arms 27 and said portion. of said platen is slidably mounted on said 7 seen that. when the rods 22' and 28 are reci rocated the platens which are respective y connected thereto will consequently be reciproca-ted. A means is provided for effecting this reciprocation. This means comprises cooperating gears 31 "and 32, the former of which is connected to and drivenby the shaft 13 heretofore referred to. The shaft 13 extends sufliciently far to carry and drive a crank 33. One end of a. link 34 is connected to the crank-pin 35 thereof while the other end of thelink is connected at 36 to .the rod 28 to which the upper platen 19 is connected. The gear 32 drives a shaft 37 which in turn carries a crank 38. A link 39 has one end thereof connected to the crank pin 40 of the crank 38, while the other end .of the link is connected at 41 to an end of the reciprocating rod to which the lower platen is connected. It will, therefore, be seen that as the shaft 13 turns the cranks just referred 'to will be revolved with the consequent result that the platens 18 and 19 are reciprocated. The crank pins are positioned relative to each other so that when the platens are in operative engagement with the yarn the platens are moving in opposite directions but at relatively the same speed.

The upper platen has been described as being carried on the yoke 26 which is at the lower end of the vertically slidable rod 25. This rod 25 is under the control of a lever 42 fulcrumed at 43. This lever is slotted, as at 44, and in the slot there enters a pin 45 extending from a collar 46 that is secured to the upper end of the rod 25. compression-spring 47 is arranged between the crossbar 24 and the collar 46. The movable end of the lever 42 engages a cam 48.- The shaft 13 and gear 31 revolve in the direction of the arrow Z. The cam 48 is constructed and arran ed so that when the upper platen ismovlng in the direction of the arrow X and when the lower platen is moving in the direction of the arrow Y the upper platen will not be'pressing against the yarn; in other words, will be in an inoperative position, but sothat when the platens are each moving in the reverse direction the yarn will be en- ,gaged by them and will be transversely to a certain extent twisted by rod. It will therefore be torsional movement of the spool 17 while the yarn next to be spooled is receiving the tor- 'sional motion or twist and in adirection to tighten the yarn.

The spoo-lin mechanism 4 is driven through the fo lowing train of mechanism, to wit, the bevel gear 49 which is on the shaft 37 that drives the crank 38 from the gear 32, the bevel gear 50, shaft 51, pulley 52, belt 53, pulley 54 and friction disks 55 and 56, the latter disk being connected to the arbor or shaft that carries the spool 17. The spool 17 is clamped on the shaft. In order that inequalities of tension may be taken care of and a required slip in the driving mechanism permitted, a compression spring is provided at 57 to regulate the pressure between the friction disks 55 and 56. The compression of this spring is controlled by an adjusting nut 58. Manifestly, any slight pull which may be the result of the'platens seizing the yarn can be taken care of by this arrangement; or, to state the same thing, in a reverse way the spool will wind the yarn only as it is allowed to doso and this without imparting any undue strain to the yarn.

From what has preceded it will be manifest that the winding head deposits the long narrow strip-as 6, see Figures 4 and 6 from spool E in a helical path, or in other words, winds the strip so as to form a circular product, to wit, a yarn (see Figure 7) that this circular product, to'wit, a yarn, isironed and transversely rolled between. the platens, and that there is a slight twisting of that portion of the yarn between the platens-or transversely rolling mechanism 3and the spool 17 as the rolling operation is taking place. The result of the series of -steps herein described isto produce a prod uct of r ular diameter, smooth and uniform and wit a permanent twist or set in the leather.

It has heretofore been indicated. that it is advisable to moisten the leather in the strip prior to being twisted. This may be accomplished, for example, by applying a wet sponge to the leather strip as it is being twisted; or other means ofdampening might be employed, for exainple, it might be advisable to soak the leather on the spool prior to bringing the spool into position for the twisting operation. i I

If desired a number 'of strips could be fed to the winding or twisting head and simultaneously wound or coiled so that they would together form a single yarn of several plies where extra strength, for example, is required. With such' a winding head, however, the number of inclined guideways would correspond to the number of narrow strips employed.-

The core, if 'used, can be made of such 3 material as cotton; 511k; linen, leather, etc., or any other suitable material. Instead of .making'the narrow strips in the manner described they could be made by circular cut ting, but if the leather were cut into circular form' it should be straightened by dam-'v or thread is properly spooled it is ready for weaving, if it is desired to employ the yarn for such purpose. The-yarn or thread of leather can be employed either as a warp, or as a filler or both, or can be combined with other material and Woven into a fabric made either wholly of or comprising as an essential part thereof a leather yarn. The yarn may be given any desired colorbefore weaving, or if it is desired a fabric made from the yarn can be colored after weaving.

A fabricmade of leather yarn is of such a character that it-can be made smooth and strong and can be softened and rolled or twisted, if desired, since the nature of the leather is in no waychanged and can be put through any of the processes-to which leather in the original state can be subjected.

The leather yarn maybe woven into a fabric of practically any length desired, for example, it can be woven long enough to make a belt adapted for the transmission of power should such a construction be desired.

A fabric made of the leather yarn is "clearly indicated in Figures 8, .9 and -10.

It will be noted, however, that where it, is desirable to have the fabric substantially smooth and flat this can be accomplished bypressure, as by'calenderin'g, and in this way. the high spots of the weave will be pressed down, as is indicated in Figures 8 and 9.

Figu

re 10 indicates the appearance of the fabric prior to the. calendering.

In the manufacture of yarn in the manner herein described a large number of pieces of leather now wasted or sold for a very nominal figure can be utilized, and-asnone of-the peculiar properties of the leather have. been destroyed the resulting product, towit, the yarn, can be used to advantage in many not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described for theymay be embodied in various forms and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is: I '-1. The .method of forming leather yarn, consisting in taking a narrow strip of split leather, moistening the same, twisting the moistened strip. to 'form a circular product,

p and finally-subjecting the yarn to an inter-- mittent transverse rollingand pressing operation. 2. The method of forming leather yarn, consisting in taking a narrow strip of split "leather, moistening the same, twisting the moistened strip'to form a circular product and finally subjecting the yarn to an inter. mittent transverse rolling and pressing o'pin cross section.

3'. A leather yarn comprising a core, and

twisted, leather strips surrounding the same.

4. A woven fabric comprising as an esseneration to form a yarn substantiallycircular tial part thereof a leather'yarn made up rounding said core. a

This specificatlon signed this l fthlday of October, A. D. 1918. I V,

- WILLIAM CAVANAUGH.

of a core-and twisted leather strips sur-

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